Farmington Hills Fire Lt. Jim Etzin still remembers the thousands of first responders who joined his cross-country journey recognizing 9/11 and the first responders who lost their lives trying to save those trapped inside the burning towers.
He started his journey a month after the tragedy, laying down his first footsteps at the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit and not stopping for nine days and 755 miles until he made it to the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.
Then a firefighter-paramedic, Etzin walked from bridge to bridge with an ever-changing group of fellow first responders. He kept walking while some dropped from the route and others joined him along the way, walking and driving in his procession, expressing support through five states.
There also were “countless” supporters who asked Etzin and his followers to pass along their sentiments, blessings and donations.